Alvin Gerard Jordan Sr., was born in the union of the late Frank A. and Leola M. Jordan, on Nov. 6, 1967, in Lafayette, La. In his participation in “the sacred dance,” Gerard has had the opportunity to be a previously married man, father of his now adult children and was a proud grandfather. He is a former U.S. Marine, with a career as a business manager that led to the ownership of his own real estate and mental health services corporations. In August 2005 he then revisited his relationship with religious life and entered the monastery and was ordained a canon and priest in the Roman Catholic Church.
He was educated by the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament while attending Immaculate Heart of Mary School and graduated from St. Louis High School, both in Lake Charles, La. Fr. Gerard completed his undergraduate business studies at Cabrini College in Radnor, Pa., (Organizational Management – Magna cum Laude) and LaSalle University in Philadelphia, (Philosophy). He also studied preaching and homiletics at the Institute for Black Catholic Studies, Xavier University. He became a certified hospital chaplain through the University of Pennsylvania Health System. He earned a Master of Divinity from Catholic Theological Union, (CTU) in Chicago, Ill.
He was a member of the Knights of St. Peter Claver and was an active 4th Degree Knight. Fr. Gerard was a third-degree member of the Knights of Columbus and served as an associate chaplain to the Knights of Malta. He was the first African American seminarian to be given the privilege of becoming a Papal Knight of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem. Additionally, Fr. Gerard was a Titular Canon of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem in Israel.
Fr. Gerard was ordained a priest on July 9, 2016. Solemn vows and ordination afforded him the blessing to serve the Church as one, of only four, African American canons in the world. The roles Fr. Gerard had the privilege of serving in since his service began are associate development director, assistant vocation director and parochial vicar in a local parish. As his schedule permitted, he traveled the country as a revivalist, retreat master, educator, faith formator, and a public speaker. He served briefly as the Administrator of St. Edward Catholic Church of New Iberia, La. He was serving as full-time Priest Chaplain at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center at the time of his death.
Alvin Gerard Jordan Sr. is survived by his son, Alvin Gerard Jordan Jr. (Tee); his daughter, Brittany Sasha Marie Jordan; grandson, Alvin Gerard Jordan III, all of Opelousas, La.; his brother, Frank A. Jordan (Connie) of Sherwood, Ark.; his sister, Altha M. Jordan-Green (Oscar) of Lake Charles, La.; four nieces, Desireé Bellard, Reneé Jordan, Allie Jones, Shanelle Jordan; one great-niece, Madelynn Jones; four great-nephews, Damond, Dominic, Daxton Bellard and Langston Jones; a host uncles, aunts, cousins, friends and family.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank A. and Leola M. Jordan; his maternal grandparents, Louis Judwin, Eva and Lloyd Pitre; and his paternal grandparents, Joseph and Hazel Jordan.
Visitation will be Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, from 8 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. in Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church. Funeral service will be Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, at 12 p.m. in Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery under the direction of Combre Funeral Home.
Words of comfort may be shared at www.combrefuneralhome.com.